Tag Archives: self-discovery

Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?

Posted on March 28, 2013 by smellincoffee

Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America? Five Kids Meet their Country© 1990 John Siegel Boettnerwith excerpts from the journals of Heather Deutsch, Joy Fulton, Jimmy West, Carl Fagerlin, and Ethan Turpin.439 pages The United States isn’t a … Continue reading →

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A Walk Across America

Posted on July 8, 2010 by smellincoffee

A Walk Across America© 1979 Peter Jenkins288 pages We walked straight west. I had everything I needed in the world resting comfortably on my shoulders, and the entire country waiting to be discovered.  (p.55) In the late spring of 1973, … Continue reading →

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Into the Wild

Posted on January 21, 2010 by smellincoffee

Into the Wild© 1997 Jon Krakauer207 pages Well over a year ago, perhaps closer to two, a friend of mine asked me if I had heard the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who left society to live off … Continue reading →

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The Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius

Posted on October 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius© 2000 Mark Forstater288 pages I first encountered Marcus Aurelius in November 2007, reading his Meditations during Thanksgiving. Although I did not mention it any detail here, the Meditations have stuck with me ever since, … Continue reading →

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Love and Death

Posted on October 14, 2009 by smellincoffee

Love and Death: My Journey Through the Vally of the Shadow© F. Forrester Church 2008145 pages “Want what you have. Do what you can. Be who you are.” – author’s personal motto When typing my comments for Our Chosen Faith: … Continue reading →

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The Consolations of Philosophy

Posted on October 11, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Consolations of Philosophy © 2000 Alain de Botton 278 pages A number of months ago, I stumbled by chance upon a fascinating television series called Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness. Host Alain de Botton addressed the everyday concerns of … Continue reading →

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Taming the Mind

Posted on September 13, 2009 by smellincoffee

Taming the Mind © 2004 Thubten Chodron 217 pages I judged a book by its cover when I read this one. Oh, I looked it up on Amazon to see what readers were saying about it — my substitute for … Continue reading →

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Walden

Posted on August 4, 2009 by smellincoffee

Walden © 1854 Henry David Thoreau I remember staring up at Walden on my high school library’s bookshelf, wondering if I should check it out. I knew it was famous: it was one of those books I’d heard of in … Continue reading →

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Finding Your Religion

Posted on July 28, 2009 by smellincoffee

Finding Your Religion: When the Faith You Grew Up with Has Lost its Meaning © 1999 Scotty McLennan 242 pages I didn’t go into the library to find this book — I pulled it off the shelf on a whim, … Continue reading →

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The Faith Club

Posted on June 6, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Faith Club: A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew — Three Women Search for Understanding © 2006 Ranya Indliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner 396 pages, including discussion guide and resources for starting similar groups. The book begins on September … Continue reading →

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